Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

In Memoriamamong them—most important in my opinion—several to pupils in our schools.He had an especially lucky hand in dealing with children and young peoplewho admired him. He was most patient towards enquirers and beginners".Again, he says, "This impressive personality, reminding me in his dignity ofa high prelate during the Middle Ages, weilding not only spiritual but alsotemporal power, has dissolved".The President of the Servants of the Buddha, Mr. Ananda Pereira, who,long before his 'teens, knew SomaThera wrote thus of him in the Ceylon DailyNews of February, 27, 1960.'With the death of the Venerable Soma Thera, Lanka loses one of hernoblest sons. Born of Roman Catholic parents on December 23, 1898,duly baptised and brought up in the faith of his parents, the youthful VictorPulle began asking questions—deep, simple, direct questions—the answersto which as given by his parents and spiritual advisors did not satisfy him.'His inquiries in due course led him to Buddhism, where at last he foundthe answers, or at least the hope of satisfactory answers to his questions.'He plunged into the study of the Buddha Dhamma. It was at thisperiod that he laid the foundation of that sure grasp of the Teachings thatserved him so well in later years as a missionary. He was associated withDr. Cassius A. Pereira (later Ven. Kassapa Thera) in the preparation of theBlessing. He was an enthusiastic and hard-working member of the Servantsof the Buddha. He made many friends.'Never one to be satisfied with half measures, he was ordained as aBhikkhu in 1936. From the day he joined the Sangha, he adorned it. Asscholar, translator, writer, preacher and missionary, he strove mightily inthe Buddhist cause. He never spared himself.'But those who knew him, will remember him most for his humanity.His was not the cold way of the anaemic academician. He lived hisBuddhism with every beat of his warm generous heart. Sometimes heseemed impulsive, sometimes even a shade pugnacious, but never, never, didhe say or do a mean, false, or deliberately unkind thing.'He was generous—with his advice, with his time, with himself. Thoughto outward appearance he was strong, his health was never particularlyrobust. But he never let ill-health interfere with his work, and his workwas always giving. I have seen him preaching sermons or reciting Pirith attimes when the mere act of breathing was acutely difficult because ofasthma.'Soma Thera was a genuine monk. He observed the Vinaya rules withabsolute strictness, never permitting himself the slightest infringement,His standards were the highest. His life was a shining example to others,Bhikkhus and lay-folk alike.'One does not need to feel sorrow on his behalf. His road is the road ofthe Buddha, the Arahats, the mighty ones. He lived here a while and hasXXII